Mac Miller Fund Announces First Grant Recipients

Nearly a year after his death, Mac Miller’s legacy lives on through his charitable endeavor The Mac Miller Fund. The first recipients of the grant, in honor of the late rapper, were announced during a press conference at East Liberty Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Friday morning (May 17).

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh’s Hope Academy of Music will receive $50,000 to develop its Suzuki Music program, and MusiCares, a charity of the Recording Academy based in Santa Monica, Calif., will also receive a $50,000 grant to set up the MusicCares Mac Miller Legacy Fund to help young adults battle substance abuse.

Miller’s grandmother, Marcia Weiss, was on hand to announce the chosen grantees and share fond memories of her beloved grandson. “I want to tell you a few grandmother stories,” she told attendees, as she recalled a 7-year-old Mac Miller on the computer creating a tune that ended, “This is rap, this is rap.”

"That’s how I learned about rap,” she continued.

“He was really a special grandchild,” Weiss added. “Please join me in remembering the bright light that Malcolm brought through his music.”

The Mac Miller Fund—initially called the Mac Miller Circles Fund and managed by the Pittsburgh Foundation—was created by Miller's parents, Karen Meyers and Mark McCormick, and his brother Miller McCormick. The goal of the fund is to provide "programming, resources and opportunities to youth from underserved communities" through arts and community building.

Miller died in September 2018 of an accidental drug overdose in Los Angeles. He was 26. In November 2018, a tribute concert was held in his honor with performances from Travis Scott, Vince Staples, Chance The Rapper and more.